Firsts 53 – Malone 0

Match Result

Match Report

Galwegians produced a sparkling performance to book a home AIB Cup semi-final against Shannon or St. Mary’s, running in nine tries against Division 2 leaders Malone at Crowley Park.

Playing with a stiff breeze in the first-half, tries from Peter Durcan and Brian McGovern appeared to set Wegians on their way. But they had to wait until first-half stoppage time for their third try, which arrived courtesy of a John Cleary breakaway from inside his own half for a 19-0 lead.

Any thoughts the visitors might have entertained of capitalising on the elements in the second-half soon disappeared as McGovern finished a superb move to score his second and Galwegians’ fourth try within a minute of the restart.

This signalled an onslaught as the Westerners turned on the style with some mesmerising running and passing to run in five more tries against the hapless Northerners. Cleary bagged a second try, with the others coming from his fellow winger Pate Tuilevaka, Martin Webdale, James Wakley and Brett Sweeney, and full-back Liam Bibo tagged on four conversions.